Camera.



C. BORNMANN.

CAMERA.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 6. i916.

Patented Mar. 20, 1917.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

CARL BORNMANN, OF BINGHAMTOI N', NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR '10 ANSCO COMPANY, OF BINGHAMTON, NEW YORK, A. CORPORATION OF NEW YORK.

CAMERA.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Mar. 20, 1917.

Application filed Kay 6, 1818. Serial No. 85,764.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, CARL BORNMANN, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of the city of Binghamton, county of Broome, and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Cameras, of which the following is a specification, reference being had to the accompanying drawings.

In cameras where a bellows, or similar folding or collapsing member is employed, a difiiculty is experienced when pulling the lens outward for extension or pushing it in for collapse, particularly if the movements be at all rapid, that the partial vacuum in the one case and the air compression in the other causes a sucking in or bulging out action upon the bellows. It is the purpose of this invention, therefore, to obviate this difficulty, which I accomplish b providing a suitable air vent through which the air can be admitted to and expelled from the bellows during its outward and inward movements.

In the drawings hereof I illustrate the invention as applied to a small folding, or socalled pocket camera. I wish it to be understood, however, that the invention is applicable to photographic cameras of all sizes, indeed to photographic apparatus of any kind in which a bellows or similar extensible and collapsible device or member is employed. The vent or air inlets in the example shown are located at the front of the bellows near the lens casing because that is a desirable location for it. It, or they may, however, be located at any preferred point in the bellows or adjoining parts, all that is requisite being that there shall be adequate air passage or passages from the interior to the exterior of the bellows or equivalent part.

In the drawings Figure 1 is a side elevation of the forward end of a small or socalled folding pocket camera, certain of the parts being shown in section; Fig. 2 is a rear view, partly in section, taken on the line 22 of Fig. 1, looking in the direction of the arrow; Fig. 3 is a front view taken on the line 3-3 of Fig. 1, looking in the direction of the arrow.

1 represents the lens and shutter casing, 2 the finder, 3, 3, the arms which, in the example illustrated, support .the lens casing and forward part of the bellows when the latter are projected as in use. The rear ends of these arms, as is well understood, are

employed, whereby achannel or air suitably connected to the body of the camera. 4 is the bellows. 5 is the forward edge of the bellows which may be bent around and suitably cemented or otherwise fastened to a plate 6. 7 is a capping plate, which incloses the forward edge of the bellows and is preferably, but not necessarily provided wlth a suitable beading 8, through which vent holes 9, in this instance four in number and preferably equally spaced from each other, are made. 10 are similar holes made through the plate 6. They are disposed midway between the holes 9 in the outer plate 7, so as to exclude the light. The plates are separated from each other a sufficient space to permit free circulation of the air and to insure this action the beading 8 is preferably passage 11 (see Fig. 1) is provided.

12 is a threaded locking ring, which coacting with a threaded extension 13 from the lens casing, firmly holds it to the forward end of the bellows structure. It will be noted that a pin 14 (see Figs. 1 and 3) occupies one of the holes 9. This pin is connected to the lens casing and has to do with the focusing mechanism. It has no necessary relation to the present invention.

The operation is obvious. When the lens and coacting parts are projected and retracted, the bellows of course are expanded and collapsed, normally tending to produce a vacuum in the first instance and air compresslon in the second instance. This action 1s, however, prevented because of the presence of the air vents provided by my invention. When the apparatus is expanded, whether rapidly or slowly, the air passes inwardly throu h the openings 9 in the outer or capping p ate 7, thence through the air passageway between the plate 7 and the inner plate 6 and passing through the holes 10 in the inner plate, enters the bellows and prevents the vacuum; and upon the collapse of the apparatus the air passing in the opposite direction through these same openings prevents air compression.

It will be obvious to those who are familiar with such mattersthat not only the modifications suggested above, but many others may be ma e and still the essentials of the invention be present. I therefore do not limit myself to any of the details described and illustrated.

I claim:

1. In a camera embodying a bellows, and

a lens casing, a perforated plate at the forward end of the bellows the perforations whereof connect with the interior of the bellows and are secreted behind and shaded by the lens casing, and means to prevent the entrance of light to the interior of the bellows.

2. In a camera, embodying a bellows, and a lens casing, a perforated plate at the forward end of the bellows which aids in securing the front end of the bellows, another perforated plate outside of first named plate,

the perforations wherein are secreted behind the lens casing and which connect with the mil 

